Hokie ClubNEWTON, Mass. – Playing its first road game of the 2011 season, the Virginia Tech men’s soccer team rallied from a two goal halftime deficit to force overtime, but fell to No.11-ranked Boston College, 4-3, tonight at Newton Campus Field. The three goals were a season-high for Tech and were scored by sophomore midfielder David Clemens, sophomore midfielder Jed Prater and freshman midfielder Ben Strong.
“I’m disappointed in the goals we gave up tonight, but with that being said I thought we had a very good second half,” said Tech head coach Mike Brizendine. “We scored two goals and had opportunities to win the game, so I’m pleased with that aspect.”
Just 9:18 into the match, Tech (3-3-0, 1-1-0 ACC) got on the board first as Clemens scored his team-leading second goal of the season as he finished unassisted from 10 yards. The Eagles would answer in the 29th minute when Chris Ager scored off a header.
Then under two minutes later, BC’s Diego Medina-Mendez gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead when he found the back of the net from six yards off assists from Ager and Amit Aburmad. Boston College would increase its lead to 3-1 when Aburmad converted a penalty kick at 35:34. The Eagles held a 12-2 advantage in shots in the first half.
However, Tech would not go down easily as early in the second period, the Hokies were able to quickly get back within one as Prater scored his first goal of the season off a deflected shot from 25 yards out at the 47:21 mark. The Hokies would then equalize at 72:52 when Strong scored his first collegiate goal off a free kick. Junior midfielder Robert Alberti was credited with the assist, his first of the season. Despite chances on both sides, neither team would score over the remaining 18 minutes in regulation, forcing the game into a sudden-death overtime period.
In the extra session, the Eagles (5-1-0, 1-1-0 ACC) got the game-winner in the 93rd minute when Charlie Rugg scored on a header off assists from Kyle Bekker and Colin Murphy.
“We knew the guys could come back in the second half,” said Brizendine. “We told them at halftime that the next goal was crucial, and if we got it, we would tie it up. Sure enough, we scored early in the second half and then got another to tie it. The goal we gave up in overtime was unfortunate as I thought we were pressing, but we had opportunities to gain some very valuable ACC points.”
Sophomore Kyle Renfro played all 92:41 in goal for Tech and made five saves. For the game, BC held a 21-9 advantage in shots. The Eagles had 10 corners to Tech’s seven.
The Hokies continue the two-game road swing on Tuesday, Sept. 20 as they travel to Johnson City, Tenn., to play East Tennessee State at 7:00 p.m. Tech then returns home on Saturday, Sept. 24 to play top-ranked Maryland at 7:00 p.m.